Overland Park man's home filled with Kennedy memorabilia

Rick Kaplan was 10 years old when he picked up his first political button at JFK headquarters in St. Louis.

He freely admits that is when his obsession began.

He was in seventh grade when he heard the devastating news that President John F. Kennedy had been fatally shot while his motorcade traveled through downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.

Fifty years later, the memories are still vivid.

"Everyone was devastated, shocked," he said. "Disbelief."

He believes he has accumulated one of the largest private collections of JFK memorabilia. Items include an original silk banner from the 1960 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, charm bracelets and match books.

Kennedy's assassination is well documented in Kaplan's home. His collection even includes a $3 ticket to a breakfast in Fort Worth in which the president ate his last meal and gave his last speech.

"My collection is more of a tribute to his memory than a memorial to his assassination," Kaplan said.

Kaplan has obtained items from garage and estate sales. He has also bought from auctions and online sites like eBay.